OK, talked to a member the other day and he complained that posts leave after a day, as he comes to the forum and presses the "new today" option under quick links.

mmmm - he did not realize that the "new posts" button, center, near top of screen will show all threads with an update since your last visit. the system keeps track of it, it know what you have seen and what you ain't.

I'm on a mac and have tabbed browsing so i come to the forum, press "new posts", when they appear i then hold the command key down and press each link and a new tab opens for each thread, fast and easy to navigate for me. when done with that thread, command "w" closes that tab

I'm gonna try something different with this thread - moderate it

if you do not post a tip on using the forum - i'll delete the post - it would be nice for a newbie and an oldie to be able to make use of this thread and not have it cluttered up with dribble from people like - who is that big mouth - of yeah - Dust.

I'm on a mac and have tabbed browsing so i come to the forum, press "new posts", when they appear i then hold the command key down and press each link and a new tab opens for each thread, fast and easy to navigate for me.

For those like me who think a 'mac' is a form of repulsive, mass-produced invalid food a similar functionality is available. Right click each item that interests and select 'open in new window'. Click the 'X' in the top right of the window to close it.

Another hint is the 'Search' button above. It is crap. If I search on my own name I return about a third of my recent posts. If you go to 'Advanced Search' from the same button the results are much more reliable. Dont blame Mike or John, it is the same on other vb forums.

Nothing makes my teeth grind more than esteemed colleagues on this forum quoting the entire previous post when they want to reply. I know some consider it nettiquete on e-mail forums to do so, but I don't need it here. I can see the post above (below). If you are responding to particular bit (like I did above) just put in that bit.

No need to put an email in a post - just let members do it through the forum. If you are just looking for a text message PM's are great.

If you want email - just say you want email and the person sending it can simply click on your name and a box shows up and an email can be sent directly through the forum to you.

if you want to send someone a file, click on their name and choose "view public profile". on the public profile the bar under the name is an option "Download vCard" that will download a vcard to your computer with the email address and then you can email like normal, attach files, etc. etc.

OK, so someone says something and it sparks an off topic thought - no problem,

hit the quote button,
when the reply box comes up with the text quoted, edit out the part of the post you do not want to quote,
select the remaining text (having left in the quoting syntax surrounding the quote)
copy it,
go to an area in the forum where the type of thread you wish to start belongs
start a new thread and paste in the text and write up your thoughts

It is really hard to search the forum and get meaningful info. At this time we have 31,407 posts.

Just go ahead and ask the question, it has been answered already, but so what. If something great was said in the past, one of the members that was here and remembers it will dig it up, it is easier to search when you been dere and done that, or someone will just answer the question.

When the topics are brought up again, I learn, you learn, we all learn.

Search if you feel like it, but, do not hesitate to ask first and not search.